Then I brushed through my hair, finished getting ready, packed my bag, and was sitting outside waiting for Marge again. “You have to stop waking up so early, because now I’m the late friend.” Marge joked.

“I was the ‘late friend’?” I made air quotations. Marge nodded. “Really Jack?” I asked him. “Sorry, but yeah.” He sheepishly nodded. I scowled with a joke eye roll and we started walking.

When we arrived at the school, a pretty girl in a cheerleader uniform came up and flirted with Jack. I raised an eyebrow, feeling weirdly hurt. Why was I feeling betrayed in some way?

“Sh-She’s part of the cheerleader squad.” He stumbled. Then I realized he was a football player. I nodded and didn’t say anything for the rest of the conversation. “Are you okay, Liz?” He finally asked.

I raised an eyebrow. “What? Yeah, of course.” I waved a dismissive hand. Now it was his turn to raise an eyebrow. But his friends called his name, and he studied me intently one more time before leaving. I let my hair fall in my face as I stared at the sidewalk. “It’s Kelly, isn’t it?” Marge asked, making my head snap up. “Who?” I asked.

“The cheerleader that flirted with Jack. After she came around, you were silent.” She said gently. I sighed and plopped down onto the nearest table, her sitting next to me. “Fine. Yes,” I admitted. She squealed.

“So I was right! You feel jealous when he interacts with other girls... because you like him!!” She shouted the last part. I blushed. “I-I don’t know. He seemed kind of into that other girl.” I said, looking away. She gaped.

“How can you even say that? It’s crazy obvious that he likes you. He only ever talks about how he loves competing with you-“ I interrupted her. “Exactly. Competing with me. He could never like me like that,” I said, feeling disappointed.

“You’re too hard on yourself. Have you not noticed how amazing you are? You’re smart, and funny, and kind, and pretty, and sarcastic... Shall I go on?” She joked.

I smiled and shook my head. I don’t know if all that was true, but it made me feel a little better. Marge always had a way of doing that, no matter how tragic the situation was. We realized we only had five minutes until class started, and raced to our locker, grabbing our books and scurrying to class.

Marge and I were watching the after-school sports for once. Mostly she told me that Jack would be there and that she thought we should wait for him. He noticed us in the stands and waved, us doing the same.

Practice was fun as I sat with Marge on the bleachers and talked about school and the pen pal (as usual) and things like that. Then the guys headed to the locker room, and I stood to follow them.

“You coming?” I asked Marge. She looked around. “Oh, um, I’ll meet up with you guys in a minute.” She replied with a smile. I gave her a questioning look but shrugged as I followed the path the boys took.

They were coming out by the time I arrived, and when I asked them where Jack was they laughed a little (which hurt) but told me that he’s usually one of the last guys out.

I sat on a nearby bench under a roof held up by think cement pillars, and eventually noticed Jack exiting the locker room. But as I stood, I saw someone walk up to him. As I looked closer I realized it was Kelly, the cheerleader that flirted with him earlier.

I hid behind one of the pillars, peeking out and watching carefully. Jack looked a little bored and their conversation seemed like it was coming to an end. Suddenly, Kelly held Jack up against the wall and moved in closer until their lips met.

My eyes widened in shock. As quickly as the kiss started, she pulled away and turned towards me. Then she gave a small wave before trotting off cheerfully, and I realized she knew I was there the entire time. Anger, betrayal, and sadness rushed through me like a raging river or erupting volcano.

Then Jack’s eyes widened as he saw me, and he jogged over to me. Tears brimmed, but I would not let him see me cry. “You saw, didn’t you?” He asked. I couldn’t speak, and nodded stiffly.

“Liz, you know how I feel about cheerleaders. Especially ones like Kelly. She means nothing to me, and you saw her shove me against the wall.” He said, moving closer. I stepped back, but he came closer again. His hand brushed my cheek, and I just couldn’t handle it.

I ran. Fast and furious, quick and silent. The tears started spilling, and my vision blurred. But it didn’t stop my pace. Eventually I found myself at Marge’s house, and knocked on the door as the tears streamed down my face. She answered.

“Hey!” She chirped, then noticed my expression and pulled me inside. “What happened?” She asked, concern in her eyes. I still couldn’t speak.

She nodded in understanding and told me to head to her room. She grabbed the sherbet and two spoons, and met me in the room five minutes later. I collapsed on her bed and she sat next to me as she stroked my hair and back, like a supportive mother would.

No, I would not think about my mother. The mother that left me and Dad. She wouldn’t be another source of pain; not now, and not ever. After a few minutes of sobbing, I managed to gain control and sat up.

Then I told her everything. How the other players snickered when I said I was waiting for Jack, how Kelly kissed him, how Jack pleaded when he noticed me.

She glared a few times when I mentioned his name, and told me exactly what she thought of Kelly with a few choice words. I nodded in agreement and we put on sad music as we ate the sherbet out of the carton. It was fin wallowing with Marge, and being able to tell her everything.

There was a knock on the bedroom door. “Be right back,” She told me as she hopped up. “Who is it?” She called. “Um, your twin brother and only other person here?” He replied. I willed myself not to laugh, and neither did Marge.

She put up one finger and signaled one minute as she twisted the doorknob and slipped out. I couldn’t help hearing everything since we were sitting near the door.

“Yes, Liz is in there. I can’t believe you would do something like that to her! Remember when you used to talk about her all the time? When you said you loved her smile and laugh and competitive side?” Marge was relentless with questions, and Jack didn’t get one chance to speak yet.

He really said all that? I felt butterflies, but immediately grabbed a metaphorical net and scooped them up. I would not feel like that after what he did.

“You broke her. You broke that amazing girl that we both knew. And now she hates you, so you can say goodbye to that friendship,” Marge finished. I could hear Jack’s long and almost sad-sounding sigh.

“Kelly is a witch. She knew Liz was standing there the entire time, so she shoved me against a wall and kissed me in front of her. What was I supposed to do? And Liz wouldn’t let me explain, so I couldn’t do much of anything.” He said.

I could picture him running his hand irritably through his blonde hair, annoyed but... cute. That’s the second time I’d thought about him. Why? Maybe I could let him explain, but then he would win and be off the hook. I wasn’t ready for that yet.

The conversation became quiet and I couldn’t hear. I slid back into my spot and she slipped back into the room, locking the door behind her just in case. “He’s really sorry, Liz. He wanted to explain but he said that you ran before he had the chance. Is that true?” She said.

“Yes,” I sighed. “He moved in like he wanted to kiss me, and after I saw him with Kelly, I just couldn’t. So I ran as fast and as far as my legs would carry me.” She digested this information, then spoke.

“He also said that the last thing he wanted to do is hurt you in any way,” she added. “Well he can say it, but it doesn’t mean anything. I’m sick of this game, and I just want to forget it ever happened and go back to being enemies.” I said, tears threatening at the thought.

It was how it had to be though. It’d be better for everyone this way. At least, that’s what I told myself. Marge nodded sadly and we stopped wallowing and decided to watch a movie. I knew one thing; I would definitely be spending the night.